Savior of the World....

Last weekend, we went to see "Savior of the World" at the conference center theater and once again......it was AMAZING!! Ron and I go every year because I love it and also, this is where Ron proposed to me. I have literally seen the show 10 times. If you have not seen Savior of the World, I would strongly recommend it.

Event Description

The musical production Savior of the World, based on scriptural accounts of the birth and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, will return to the Conference Center Theater for the Christmas season. The show features a cast of talented actors, singers, and musicians sharing testimony through drama and song of the divine mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.

According to the director, "The purpose of this production is to testify of Jesus Christ. During the Christmas season, Savior of the World provides a meaningful opportunity for all to remember His birth and Resurrection and renew their devotion to Him." The production, presented in the state-of-the-art Conference Center Theater, features a beautiful soundtrack.

https://www.lds.org/church/events/temple-square-events/2014-savior-of-the-world?lang=eng

Watching this show always gets me ready for Christmas and reminds me what the true meaning of Christmas should be. The thing that I love most about this show is that it truly testifies of Jesus Christ. The spirit it undeniable and you can feel it so strongly as the choir sings certain songs or when scriptures are quoted. It is truly amazing.  One of my favorite parts of the show is when the angel comes to the shepherds in the field and tells them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke2: 10-11). After the angel tells the shepherds this, the choir of angels rejoice and start to sing. Every time, it brings me to tears because the spirit is so strong. I love it. I won't give the whole story away, but you should definitely go this holiday season. 

Here is also a link to the amazing music.....

https://www.lds.org/callings/music/savior-of-the-world/download-material?lang=eng

Ice Skating

 About a week about, we went ice skating for mutual. Reese has really been wanting to go ice skating lately and so I took the opportunity to bring her along. Also, I have a difficult time leaving my girls lately. With everything that has happened with Lola, I have a difficult time leaving Reese and Nora at all. I also realized that I tend to have breakdowns when Reese and Nora are not with me. Anyway, back to ice skating.....
We had a great time skating with our youth. They are so much fun to be around and they have such strong testimonies. They are kind, loving, and always so welcoming. I have really missed the young women in our ward. I haven't been around much the past couple of months. I have been lifted up many times by our amazing young women and a feeling of responsibility to be a good example to them. As I have felt my testimony being strengthened, I have had a desire to share the things I have learned to our young women. I keep feeling like if I had to go through this trial to help strengthen these young women, then it was worth it. I hope and pray that they can feel how much their Heavenly Father love them and that He is present in their life. Anyway, we had a great time ice skating.

Build a Bear Workshop...

 A couple weekends ago, Ron was playing in the State Doubles racquetball tournament down in South Jordan. We were excited to go down and watch him play and meet up with Sadie (Nora's birth mother). Ron played really well and actually took 1st place in one division and 3rd in another division. The girls always love getting new medals:) What kid wouldn't want to get a big shiny medal (Especially if your child ever watches Wreck it Ralph).
While Ron was still playing, Sadie, the girls, and I went and did some shopping at IKEA and then we went to build-a-bear. I had been promising Reese that I would take her there for quite a while and she was so excited! We have only been to Build a Bear once before and it was truly magical. The fact that we were in Downtown Disney probably helped with the magical effect. I had promised Reese that I would take them to Build a Bear because they have been through a lot lately and have been so amazing. Just as Heavenly Father has blessed Ron and I, He has been very mindful of Reese and Nora and has blessed them in so many ways during the past couple of months. I have been so proud of them and just wanted to do take them to do something fun! Reese absolutely loves My Little Ponies and as soon as she saw the ponies, she knew what she wanted. The girls had fun picking out their pony and reindeer and watching them come to life. When we were walking to dinner, it was so funny to watch Nora. She insisted on carrying her own box and didn't want anyone to help her. She was so happy and she dragged her reindeer all through Gateway. We were laughing the whole time and she grabbed the attention of everyone that passed her.

 It was great to spend the day with Sadie. We love her so much and I am very grateful for our relationship! I am very grateful for open adoptions and that Sadie is a part of our family. I truly feel like that. People wonder how we can have this type of relationship and it feels like she is my little sister. She comes over to our house and helps me with the girls. I don't worry if the house is a mess because she doesn't judge me, she just loves and is always full of gratitude. Sadie is truly one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She has and continues to always think of what is best for Nora and our family. She protects our family and I absolutely love her. We are so proud of Sadie. She has worked so hard since she placed Nora to get to where she is. She has such a strong testimony, she is mature, independent, she works hard, goes to school, she goes to institute, and she is SO HAPPY! I absolutely love seeing how happy she is. Sadie is taking a temple prep class right now and is planning on receiving her endowments in a couple on months and has invited us to come when she goes through the temple.  I am so excited for her and that she wants us to be in the temple with her. I am so grateful to have Sadie in our life!

The things I know to be true....

 This past fast Sunday was the last Sunday we had with Lola. I had a strong desire to share my testimony because it has been strengthened so much during the past couple of months. I waited too long during sacrament and didn't get the opportunity to bear my testimony. I felt like I had disappointed Heavenly Father somehow. As I was driving home, I was praying and apologizing to Heavenly Father, but I quickly felt these words, "You don't need to say your testimony, you are living it." Every time I hear Heavenly Father's voice lately, it just brings me more and more peace in knowing that I am doing what He has asked of me. I sure don't feel like I am living my testimony, but I hope that I am. The spirit was so strong today and I can't help but bear my testimony in any way that I can..........

I know that we have a Heavenly Father who is all knowing, all loving, all powerful, and it is His greatest desire to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). We truly are His children and He loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to atone for all of our sins. I know that the atonement is real. I know that it is real because I feel it working in me every single day of my life. I am so grateful for my Savior that has suffered for me so He would know exactly how I feel and could "succor" me in my afflictions ( Alma 7;11-12). This whole adoption journey has been a difficult and yet spiritually drenched experience. I have felt the spirit guiding us to Lola since before we even met Portia. We felt the spirit that this was the child we had been praying for when Portia first emailed us. When it seemed like things were not going to work out, time and time again, we felt the spirit guiding us to keep moving forward. After the roller coaster of events at the hospital and Portia being discharged with Lola, we felt the Spirit and knew that things would work out. After Portia had changed her mind and told the birth father everything he needed to do to stop the adoption and then actually filed the petition, we felt the spirit and were guided every step of the way. We felt it when we needed to reverse the adoption, we felt it when Lola needed to return with us, and we felt when it when it was time to let her go. It was amazing to me that when I had actually asked for a sign to know that it was time to let Lola go....... Heavenly Father gave it. I had specifically asked that we would be contacted by a birth mother when it was time to let Lola go and he blessed us with this. We were contacted by the sweetest birth mother that I had been having promptings about for a while. After she contacted, I felt peace in letting Lola go. Portia came and picked up Lola a few days later and I knew that Heavenly Father had a plan for our family and I had done what He had asked.  I testify that we can truly have His spirit to be with us everyday if we live in such a way to have it. Although this adoption has not gone as we had hoped for planned for, we know that we needed to be a part of Lola's life at this time, we know that it was not a mistake that we were brought into her life, and we know that we have done all that has been asked of us. We have so much peace in knowing and feeling that Heavenly Father is proud of us. This feeling has got me through some difficult times. I know that Heavenly Father truly is all knowing and He knows what is best for our family and for Lola. I am grateful that He is all knowing because I can put my complete faith in Him and know that He will not lead me astray. I know that if we can endure through the difficult times, blessings lie ahead in my life and that is exciting. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us more than I can even imagine. Reese and Nora are always examples of that. I look forward to the wonderful blessings that await us if we just patiently wait in faith.  I know that the scriptures are the word of God and I have received so many answers to my prayers as I have read my scriptures. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has helped me to truly not just read, but study and search the scriptures for answers. They are there, but we need to ask and seek. The scriptures have brought me so much comfort and guidance.

One of my favorite quotes is this.....
"Even if and when we seem to have squeezed out the last full measure of our devotion, an omniscient and perfectly empathetic God not only knows the difficulties through which we have passed and are passing but also knows if any residue of unused devotion still remains to further the process!" -Elder Maxwell

I have used this quote many times because I love it! We have all heard the quote many times that talks about how God will not give us anything that we cannot handle, but it's about a loving Heavenly Father that knows exactly what we need to become like Him. I am grateful for this experience that has helped me to become more like my Savior. I know that when we are humble, Heavenly Father can do great things in our life. It is through the atonement that we can have our nature changed and that gives me hope. We will not just endure, but we can triumph.  I love my Savior and I love my Father in Heaven. It is because of them that we can rise above any trial or affliction we may face. I am grateful for trials that strengthen my faith! I know that Heavenly Father will bless us when we act in faith and are obedient. I know Heavenly Father has blessed and will continue to bless us more than we can imagine. Reese and Nora are proof of that. They are always my reminder that God holds true to His promises. A scripture that comes to mind is
1 Corinthians 2: 9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
Last, but not least......I am so grateful for my eternal family! Words cannot express how much I love them and what a strength they are to me.  No matter what trials may come, they are mine for eternity. I know that families can be together forever. I not only know that, I feel it everyday of my life!
This gospel is true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Reesie making Ron and Lola laugh

Sleeping beauty! I miss this sweet baby!

Lola, Reese, and Nora.......

 These three are truly 3 peas in a pod. When Lola came back home with us, we got home really late Thursday night. Reese has been waking up in the middle of the night and coming into our bed to sleep. In the morning, I woke up to feed Lola and I was just laying in bed with her. Reese woke up and rolled over and saw Lola and said, "Mama, She's back! She's back!" Then she wanted to hold her. Reese has so many unique qualities that make a an unbelievable big sister. She truly cares about people, she is selfless, and she is a nurturer at heart. It seems like in the past couple of months, I have watched Reese grow up right before my eyes. She is my little helper and has been such a delight to be around. She has made sure that Nora has plenty of attention, she loves to hold Lola, and she is just so sweet when she talks about Nora and Lola. Nora was so excited when she saw Lola was back with us. I put her on the bed and she just started yelling, "baby, baby, baby, " and tried to pick her up. Nora has been so amazing as well. I can't believe how much she has grown up in the past couple of months as well. It kind of makes me sad, but I am so proud of her. Nora has started talking so much more and communicating better. She has also been such a great helper. She loves to give Lola her binky, feed Lola, and she loves to hold her. Nora has a sense of humor that can brighten your day. She finds something that will make you laugh and then will completely ham it up. I am so grateful for my sweet girls that fill my life with so much happiness.

 We are so grateful to have baby Lola back in our home. Although we cannot adopt her right now, I know this is where she is supposed to be right now and I know that Heavenly Father has given us the strength and understanding to take care of her in our home. It is a very interesting situation to be in just because when we were in a similar situation 4 years ago, we brought the baby home for 3 days and then the birth mother decided to parent and they came and took him. That experience was so difficult for me that it took me months to get over it and feel normal again. I swore to myself that we would never allow ourselves to be in that situation again and I actually would not allow Lola to come home with us when Portia wanted us to do this same thing in the hospital. Now, 4 weeks later, we were asking to have her back, knowing that we cannot adopt her. What has cause the changed in our attitude? The Spirit! I can't tell you how important the
Spirit has been in this entire process. I don't know what Heavenly Father's plan is for sweet Lola, but there is a plan and He has brought together an army of amazing people to take care of her. I can't express enough how grateful I am for my testimony and how much it has been strengthened. I have learned that I can do anything if Heavenly Father is with me. I have learned that I don't have to worry about what might come next if I follow the Spirit. I know that Heavenly Father is all knowing which means that I can trust him completely and do not have to rely upon my own understanding. I also know that you can have peace and happiness during any trial. We have had so much fun as a family with Lola. She has been an honorary Scoville and we didn't wast time with her. She experienced what a Scoville dance party was like, movie nights, watch USC football games, trunk or treating, and feel what a happy family feels like. I know that everyone didn't understand or agree with Lola coming back with us, but we felt that this is what Heavenly Father wanted us to do and so we didn't worry what other people thought. We were able to love her, care for her, and not just give her a place to stay, but give her a home and family. I have tried to make our home a safe haven from the storms and a place that the spirit can dwell. I hope that we have been able to give that to Lola. She is a special daughter of our Heavenly Father and I know that He is keenly aware of her. He knows her strengths and weaknesses, he knows what is best for her and what she needs to become more like Him. All I can do is just be an instrument in His hands for as long as I can.

Happy Halloween

 We had a wonderful Halloween this year. Reese has been talking about what she wanted to be for Halloween since January. Earlier this year, she wanted to be Elsa, Nora would be Anna, Sachi was going to be Sven, Ron was going to be Kristoff, and I was going to be Olaf. Then it switched to Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu, Raja,and the Jeanie. Then she decided on My Little Ponies and wanted to look at My Little Pony costumes everyday for the past 3 months. She was so excited to finally wear her costume although she didn't really enjoy trick or treating. Nora on the other hand hated putting her costume on, but absolutely loved trick or treating.

Nora was hilarious trick or treating. We went to my grandma's assistant living and all people were sitting in a circle giving out candy to all the little kids. Reese didn't want to go get candy, but Nora sure did. She was hilarious. She would grab handfuls of candy from the bucket and then move onto the next bucket. She then went over to her cousins buckets and was grabbing handfuls of candy from their buckets and putting it in her own. The hilarious part was that they had no idea she was doing this. I couldn't get Nora to put on her costume at the Assisted Living place so we had to resort to my tiger ears.

 We had fun trick or treating. Our friends watched Lola while we went trick or treating, but not before we stopped by Ron's parents house. It's so cute how Nora and Reese talk to Lola. Thney are the best big sisters. Nora loved running from house to house knocking on all the doors. I realized that if I stopped to talk too long, Nora would grab handfuls of candy over and over again without me knowing. We had to put candy back quite a few times;) I was so proud of Nora though! She walked almost the entire time and was so happy the entire time. Reese wasn't feeling real well and Ron had to carry her almost the entire time. I felt pretty bad because before we had even started trick or treating, she said she just wanted to stay at home and watch a movie. Anyway, Reese was a trooper and Nora was hilarious and we had a wonderful night of trick or treating.

 Lola spent the evening with our friends and I 'm pretty sure she was loved and cuddled the whole night. She is such a good baby.